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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2014
Vol. CXXIII, No. 216
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY OF TACOMA Devoted to the Courts, Real Estate, Finance, Industrial Activities, and Publication of Legal Notices
Published Published Since Since 1890 1890
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McMillin Bridge
Preservationists, WSDOT plan future for Pierce County landmark Article and File Photo By Todd Matthews, Editor It wasn't that long ago the 80-year-old McMillin Bridge (pictured) near Orting was slated to come down. Three years ago, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) intended to tear down the old bridge as part of a plan to build a larger bridge nearby (see "Future uncertain for historic McMillin Bridge," Tacoma Daily Index, May 9, 2011). Historic preservationists throughout Washington State and beyond were motivated to write letters to WSDOT and Pierce County Council asking for the state-owned bridge to be spared. Two years ago, the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation nominated the bridge to Pierce County's Register of Historic Places (see "Fearing its demolition, preservationists nominate McMillin Bridge to Pierce County's historic register," Tacoma Daily Index, Nov. 16, 2012). One year later, the bridge was added to Pierce County's Register of Historic Places (see "McMillin Bridge added to Pierce County historic register," Tacoma Daily Index, June 19, 2013). The following month, WSDOT announced it would back off on its plan to demolish the historic structure (see "WSDOT halts plan to tear down historic McMillin Bridge," Tacoma Daily Index, July 18, 2013). The concrete span with walk-through arced trusses was built in 1934 and designed by Homer M. Hadley, a man who is well-known among bridge engineers and local historians, and whose work contributed to bridges spanning rivers, lakes and creeks throughout Washington State. Hadley pushed for the state to build a floating concrete bridge across Lake Washington. Today, the westbound span of the Interstate 90 floating bridge is officially named the Homer M. Hadley Memorial Bridge. Hadley died in 1967 at the age of 82. In 1982, Hadley was posthumously recognized for his engineering acumen when the McMillin Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places — a designation that proved to be more honorary than regulatory 30 years later. Fast-forward to today, and the transportation
agency still intends to build a new bridge nearby. Additionally, WSDOT and the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) are currently negotiating an agreement that will lay out a plan for managing the landmark bridge into the future. This summer, WSDOT invited a group of stakeholders (also known as "consulting parties" — the group includes representatives of WSDOT, Pierce County, DAHP, the Washington Trust for
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Historic Preservation, bridge historians, architectural historians, and historic preservationists) to submit their questions and comments regarding future plans for the historic bridge. (note: WSDOT has posted written comments, site plans, and other related documents online here). WSDOT has proposed installing bollards at both ends of the McMillin Bridge to prevent motor vehicle access; performing safety inspections every two years; repairing the bridge as funding is available; removing the roadway that approaches the bridge; and providing an access route to allow Pierce County to maintain the levee. CONTINUED The consulting parties ON PAGE 2 would like to see more, such